Mayawati orders probe into farmers’ killing (Lead)

Lucknow/Greater Noida, Aug 14 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has ordered a judicial probe into the police firing on farmers in Greater Noida that killed four and injured dozens Wednesday even as the administration ruled out any hike in the compensation for the acquired land. “A decision has been taken to appoint a retired high court judge to conduct a judicial inquiry into Wednesday’s clash between farmers and the police in Greater Noida,” the chief minister’s principal secretary V.S. Pandey said at a press conference here Thursday.

He also announced the chief minister’s decision to enhance the monetary compensation to the families of those killed in the firing. “Besides the ex gratia payment of Rs.200,000 that had already been awarded by the Greater Noida authority, the chief minister has decided to give an additional compensation of Rs.300,000 to the family of each of the deceased,” he said.

The Greater Noida administration was directed to look after the injured and to ensure free treatment for them.

Pandey, however, ruled out any hike in the compensation paid to the farmers against acquisition of their land along the Delhi border for creation of a Greater Noida industrial township.

“The rate at which the final compensation was paid to the farmers towards their acquired land was more than double of what was originally agreed upon between the Greater Noida authority and the farmers,” Pandey pointed out.

Four farmers were killed and more than 50 poeple including policemen were injured in clashes in Greater Noida. The farmers were demanding more compensation for their land being acquired by the state government.

The state government also made changes in the administration.

Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority chairman Lalit Srivastava, who had been holding the charge of CEO as well, was asked to hand over the key charge to Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Pankaj Agrawal.